Adjustable bracelet



Feb; 25, 1930.

w. H. LESTER ADJUSTABLE BRACELET Filed Sept. 7. 192

Patented Feb. 25, 1930- g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. LESTER, 0F ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSI'G-NOR TO ILLINOIS WATCH CASE COM- PA'NY, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ADJUSTABLE BRACELET Application filed September 7', 1927. Serial No. 217,982.

This invention relates to a bracelet of the adjustable type designed particularly for use with a watch which is to be worn upon the wrist.

It is an object of my invention to devise for this purpose a bracelet which will be simple, inexpensive, durable, and easily adjustable, and also to utilize in such a bracelet a minimum number of parts. It is also desired that the bracelet should be comfortable for wear and be attractive in appearance inasmuch as it is exposed to view much of the time. These objects and purposes have been realized by the present invention of which a suggestive embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the bracelet with an associated watch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken longitudinally on line 22 of Fig. 1, a portion of the view being in elevation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of one end of the bracelet;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section showing the locking connection between the sliding ends of the bracelet; and

Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of one bracelet end which is attachable to a watch.

The p; esent bracelet is formed of companion straps A and B each having one end looped in the form of an eye 6 and extended back again to provide a tongue 7 which remains pressed against the strap by the spring action of the material of which the strap is made. The strap end so formed provides, in effect, a spring hook adapted to receive a bar 8 which is bracketed to axwatch C. For a considerable portion of its length each strap is lapped past the other,'as indicated best in Fig.1. It is contemplated that these straps may be made of metal having a desired flexibility and conformable to the wrist which is encircled thereby.

The strap A has one end a lying outwardly of the end portion 6 of the other strap B, these two ends being overlapped as above described. At or near the extremity of the strap?) is secured a bar 9 in the form of a loop which surrounds the other strap a. to form therewith a sliding adjustable connection. The extremity of strap A which is slotted at 10 to provide spaced bars 11 is looped around in the form of double eyes 12 through which is extended a pin 14 having its ends engaging with upper and lower ears 15 which proceed laterally from a bar 16 which lies inwardly of the strap B. By this means I provide, in effect, a second loop connecting fast with the strap A and extending around the other strap B to furnish an adjustable sliding connection therewith.

v Pivotally mounted upon the pin 14 between the eyes 12 is a tongue 17 of a size adapted to swing into the slot 10 and lie fiush therewithin (see Fig. 4). One end of the tongue which is looped around at 18 to encircle the pin is humped at 19 adjacent the strap B to provide, in effect, a cam which resists movement of the tongue from the closed position of Fig. 4. During swinging of the tongue toward this position, the cam exerts also a favoring force close to the end of such movement. The opposite tongue end may be outturned at 20 to provide a-finger piece.

The tongue furnishes a mounting for a stud 21 which projects laterally toward the strap B in which are provided a series of aligned holes 22 any one of which may receive the stud when the tongue is swung to its closed position. With the stud so disposed in any hole a locking connection is established between the two straps such that further adjusting movements are arrested. By swinging the tongue out, however, the stud is wthdrawn from engagement with the strap B permitting a sliding adjustment of the twostraps to a new position. The stud may be provided with an enlarged head 23 having a transverse split 24. Thehead so formed will enter or leave one of the holes held in position by virtue of the spring action which is present in the material of which these parts are made, thus obviating the necessity of employing separate springs to supply this force. The tongue 17 is of such size and form as to enter the slot where its presence may scarcely be detected. Such manipulations as are necessary to adjust, remove, or replace the bracelet may be perm formed quickly and with ease, and the wearer need have no concern about the parts wearing out, inasmuch as their durability is almost unlimited. Also because of the two bars ,9 and 16, the strap ends remain connected in all adjusted positions, and are incapable of separating which, if accidentally occuring, might result in loss of the bracelet and associated watch.

I claim: 7 go 1. The combinationwith a bracelet comprising two flexible metallic straps each having an end overlapping the other and having means forming a sliding connection adjacent each strap end with'the other strap, of a pair of bars extended beyond the end of one 7 strap, said bars being looped around to provide two eyes, a pin extended through the eyes and supporting the associated sliding connection with the other strap, a tongue I so pivoted to swing upon the pin and receivable between the bars, a stud carried by the tongue and engageable with the other strap wherein are formed a plurality of aligned holes in any one of which the stud may enter ae to lock the two straps against relative sliding movement, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bracelet com prising two flexible metallic straps having means adjacent their opposite ends for proag viding a sliding connection therebetween, of V a mounting associated with one of said means. a tongue pivoted in said mounting, there being in the proximate strap a slot through which the tongue is movable, a stud carried by the tongue, there being in the other strap a plurality of holes in any selected one of which the stud is adapted to enter whereby to lock the two straps against relative sliding movement, and means associated with the tongue for hearing against one strap with a variable pressure whereby to urge the tongue to a closed position within the slot, substantially as described.

'WILLIAM H. LESTER. 

